A new cohort of ambitious founders from North-east Scotland is in the USA with Opportunity North East to hone their entrepreneurial skills.
The group is in Boston to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP).
The relationship between the north east of Scotland and MIT started in 2022. Since then, founders - funded by ONE, Scottish Enterprise, ETZ Ltd, University of Aberdeen and Robert Gordon University - have taken part in the Entrepreneurship Development Programme.
This is a hands-on course, introducing participants to MIT’s entrepreneurial education programmes, technology transfer system and global entrepreneurial network, using a custom-developed generative AI tool. Founders return with the skills and confidence needed to design, launch and scale innovation-driven enterprises.
Commenting, Opportunity North East CEO Jennifer Craw MBE said: “Partnership is at the heart of how ONE works and this region’s partnership with MIT is very special. The MIT Disciplined Entrepreneurship 24 Step framework is embedded across all our founder support.
“The 2026 EDP cohort is in for an intense week of learning and development. The feedback of the impact of this entrepreneurial education is super positive. An independent assessment of ONE programme activity found that 100% of the founders who attend MIT report increased confidence and ambition to grow their business internationally.
“I am confident that these founders, like those who went before them, will go on to scale their business through a laser focus on customers and target markets and by securing the finance to fund that growth.
“Back in the region, the ONE programme of activity brings founders together as they apply their learnings and includes workshops on Entrepreneurial Sales Strategy, Finance for Founders and Venture Mentoring, translating learning into business growth.
“This is an incredible opportunity for our leading north east founders and partners and I am excited to see the impact over the next 12 months.”